Driven steering wheels mounted for independent movement



Aug. 26, 1952 H. H. W. JOHNSON DRIVEN STEERING WHEELS MOUNTED FQR INDEPENDENT MOVEMENT Filed Feb. 24, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet l Jr-ZU Fig 2.

Herman H. W. Johnson INVENTOR.

Attorneys Aug. 26, 1952 H. H. w. JOHNSON 2,608,260

DRIVEN STEERING WHEELS MOUNTED FOR INDEPENDENT MOVEMENT 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 24, 1948 Herman H. W. Johnson INVENTOR.

Aug. 26, 1952 H. H. w. JOHNSON DRIVEN STEERING WHEELS MOUNTED FOR INDEPENDENT MOVEMENT 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 24, 1948 Herman h. M Johnson IN V EN TOR.

Patented Aug. 26, 1952 v. UNITED STATES, PATENT -.OFFI.CE;.-;';:;

DRIVEN STEERING WHEE sMoUNTE'n FOR INDEPENDENT MOVEMENT Herman H. ,WQ- Johnson, Akron, 0010. Application February 24, 1948, Serial No. 10,531 7, 7 i

7 (Cl. 180-44) Q 2 Claims.

1 a k This invention relates generally to automotive vehicles, and more particularly to a chassis construction in which four or more wheels are individually resiliently mounted on a rigid frame, all four wheels being driven, with means for raising and lowering the framerelative to the wheels. 7 I l I A primary object of this invention is to pro} vide a vehicle chassis in which -thewheels are individually and resiliently mounted without the use of universal joints in the power transmission means to these wheels.

Another object of this invention, ancillary to the preceding object, is to avoid the difiiculty of maintenance, as well as the increased initial cost, of power transmission means involving the use of universal joints, this invention providing a four-wheel drive suitable for small and large vehicles, and being adaptable for use with an even greater number of driven wheels.

Another object of this invention is to provide means incorporated with a device designed as mentioned above whereby the vehicles may be steered and otherwise controlled satisfactorily.

Still another object of this invention is to provide frame elevating means incorportedlwith suspension means at each wheel of the vehicle, whereby the frame may be raised relative. to the wheels, whenever this is desirable, asin traversing a snow covered road-bed, and in many other instances. Yet another object of this invention is to provide novel individualwheel mounting means involving the use 1 of specific elements-which are themselves noveland utilitarian z p; And q, last obiect V to. be mentioned specifically is to-prgvlde a chassis construction which is relativelyginexper isive and completely practical to manufacture, which is safe, simple and conyenient to use, and which will give generally efficient and durableiservi'ce. Y I

With these objects (1 finitely inview, together with other objects 01:19:, specifi clcharacter which will become apparentes this description proceeds thisninvention, resides in certain, novel features of. construction, combination and l ar rangement of-elem'entsand portions which will be hereinafter, described in the specification, particularly-pointedout in the appended claims, and illustrated in thefaccompanying drawings which form a material part of this, application, and in whiclif "i v 1,; f Figure l'iis a topplan view. of 'thefimproved chassis" I21; 1s. a-f right h'and. side 1 elevationview of the'cliassis'f Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of a portion of the chassis, taken on the ii"- regular section line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a similar vertical longitudinal sectional view, taken on the irregular section line 4 4 inlFigure l, and illustrating a rear portion of the chassis; I Figure 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view' of a'wheel and wheel mounting, taken "on the line 5-5 in Figure 1; l Q 1 Figure 6 is a similar view, taken on the line 61-6 in Figure 1 and showing the front wheel mounting in vertical section"; If,

Figure 7 and Figure 8 are horizontal sectional views of .rear' and front Wheel mountings, respectively, the wheels being shownin plan and certain portions, of the figures being broken away toshow the underlying structure inhori-g zontal section; Y Tl Figures9 and 10 and 11 are transverse vertical sectional views taken on the respective section linesin Figurel and designed to show portions of the structure used toimount the wheels on the housing assembly disposed substantially centrally and transversely of the chassis. 4

Similar characters r of reference designate similar elements or portions throughout-the spe cification and throughout the several viewsof the drawings. I 7 1 p I Referring now to the drawings in detail, this invention will be seen to include aframe having longitudinallydisposed side frame members I0, transversely disposed braces l2 and I4, an engine bed I 6 and a plurality of outwardly extending portions I 8 which may be ofiset upwardly from the lateral frame members It], as indicated An engine 29 will be m unted ontheyengine bed 15 and a jack shaft 22-will befrotatably mounted transversely of the frame in a hous n assembly indicated bv the numeral 24.- Forpurposes of reference'the enlarged portions of this housing assembly will be referred to 'as the housings 26 and the reduced portions 28 will; be seen to bemounted as at 36 on the lateral frame members It; The housings 26have bearingsil indicated in'Figures 3 and 9 between the axle housing 28 and the shaft 22 and. a bronze collar bearing 29 is mounted between the housings 128 and the housings 26 tnallow rotative movements of thehousings 26 with-the drive shafts 92 and t bes 94 hereinafter. described. The housings 26 each. enclose one of the-bevelled gears 32 carried bvthe -.iack sh a-ft 2 2,- andanother bevelled i Whichi be r n b apinionzsszcom nected to a-driv e shaft 38 operatively connected with the engine 20 by any suitable means generally indicated at 40 and ordinarily including gear shift and clutch mechanisms, the details of which have no part in this specification. The bevelled gear 34 and pinion 36 will, of course, have their own housing 42, and suitable braces 44 may be provided between lugs 46 on the reduced portions 28 and extending for connection to rearward portions of the lateral frame members I0.

It will be clear from an inspection of the figures, that still other bevelled gears 48 are carried by the jack shaft 22 at theouter ends thereof and these last-mentioned bevelled gears are enclosed in housings 50 mounted for limited rotation on the ends of the reduced portions 28, these housings 50 being located preferably exteriorly of the lateral frame members I0. The front wheels 52 and rear wheels 54 are each mounted for individual vertical movements of the wheels, but special provision is made in the front wheel mountings to allow for steering the front wheels. In the case of the front wheels 52, stub axles 56 terminate in housings hereinafter described which are supported, in part, by pivot ended braces 58 rigidly mounted on the corresponding tubes 94, these housings carry the steering arms 60 which are pivoted to the forward ends of the links 62 while the rear ends of these links are pivotally secured to the tie rod 64 by universal joints 66. The tie rod 64is pivoted at 68 at. any suitable adjacent fixed portion such as a transverse frame .brace member I and is connected to a conventional steering apparatus 12, including a link I4 and thought to be unnecessary to describe or illustrate in thisapplication,

Both front and rear wheels are provided with bevelled ring gears I6 and these ring gears are caged in housings I8 and 80, the essential features of these housings being that they enclose the ring bevelled gears 16 and also provide bearings. 18, 80' for the short shafts 82 and 84 carrying double bevelled gears 86in the case of the front wheels, these gears being arranged as indicatedin Figure 6, and a simple or single bevelled gear 88 carried by the drive shaft 84, in the case of the rear wheels illustrated in Figure 5. In other words, the double bevelled small gear wheel 86 meshes with the ring gear I6 and at the same time is in constant mesh with a pinion 80 carried on the forward end of the drive shaft 92, the forward end of this drive shaft 92 being rotatably supportedfb'y a suitable bearing in the housing I8. The drive shafts 84 and 92 may be enclosed by suitable tubes 94, and the said drive shafts extend into the housings 50 and 26, respectively, and have secured thereto pinion gears 86 and 98 whereby the drive shafts are driven continuously when the jack shaft 22 is motivated.

A unique feature of this invention is the incorporation therewith of hydraulic cylinders I02 rigidly secured on the upper portions of each of the housings 18 and 80. Pistons I04 are mounted in these cylinders and each pistonhas an enlarged head I06 which is recessed to receive the lower endof a spring I08 compressed between the head I06 and a cup member I I0 carried by the extending portions I8 of the frame. Diametrically disposed straps II2 may be bolted as at II4 to center the springs I08 properly within the cups H0 and the recessed heads I06. A master cylinder II6 having a piston operated by a pedal lever H8 is suitably mounted on the to each cylinder I02, so that the portions I8 may to this portion of the structure.

be forced upwardly, relative to the wheels 52 and 54 by an operator of the vehicle, whenever he may desire to increase the clearance of the frame above the road bed. It will be clear that the springs I08 will cushion the frame at all times and that individual resilient mounting of each wheel is achieved by the structure described above. I

Brace members .I28 maybe connected between the housing 28 and forward portions of the tubes 94 encasing the drive shaft 92, to render stability The forward ends of these brace members I28 may be welded to the tubes 94 and the rear ends are provided with bearing structures including bronze collar bearings I30 and split collars I32 illustrated clearly in Figures 9 and 1. The housing 28 may I have annular abutments I 34 which coact with inner hub portions I36 of the housings 50, while outer hub portions I38 of the housings 50 may be provided with bearings I40 for the ends of the jack shaft 22. Another bronze bearing collar I42, or equivalent structure, will act as antifriction means between the outer ends of the housing 28 and the hub portions I36, and any suitable structure such as screwed rings I44 held by pins I46 may be used to retain the housings 50 in place and the housings may be formed with removable end plates I48 to facilitate assembly.

Shock absorbers I50 of conventional type will be connected by their arm members I52 to the extending portions I8 of the frame and to suitable portions of the wheel assemblies such as the cylinders I02, the connections being, of course, of pivotal character as illustrated at I54 in Figure 5.

The operation of this invention will be'clearly understood from the foregoing description of the mechanical details thereof, taken in connection with the above recitation of the objects sought to be achieved by this invention. In recapitulation, it may be added that a complement of braking mechanisms, steering mechanisms and general control mechanisms of conventional character may be added to this chassis according to the use to which the chassis is to be put and according to individual preferment.

Accordingly this invention should belimited only as determined by a proper interpretation of the terminology used in the subjoined claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In an automotive vehicle chassis including an elongated rigid frame, a drive assembly comprising a jack shaft rotatably mounted on said frame and extending transversely thereof intermediate the ends of said frame, a plurality of axially aligned jack shaft housings rotatably mounted on said jack shaft for movement about the axis of the jack shaft, a plurality of axle housings, each housing having a stub axle journalled therein, a ground contacting wheel mounted on each of said stub axles, a gear casing rotatably mounted on each of said axle housings for rotation about an axis whichextends radially'of said stub axles, each of said casings being radially spaced from the corresponding stub axle, a shaft tube extending between each of said gear casings and a corresponding one of said jacl: shaft housings and rigidly secured to the latter, said shaft tubes mounting said axle housings on said jack shaft for vertical movement independently of each other, a brace bar rigidly secured to each of said shaft tubes and extending forwardly therefrom and terminating in spaced vertical relation with the forward end of the corresponding shaft tube, means pivotally attaching each of said axle housings at a point diametrically opposed to said gear casings to a corresponding one of said brace bars for movement about the axis of rotation of the gear casings relative to the axle housing, a bevel gear carried by each of said wheels and disposed in a corresponding one of said axle housings, a drive shaft disposed in each of said tubes and each drive shaft having a bevel gear on opposing ends thereof and respectively disposed in a corresponding one of said gear casings and said jack shaft housings, a double bevel gear rotatably mounted in each of said axle housings and the connected gear casing for movement about the axis of rotation of the gear casings, said double bevel gears drivingly connecting the corresponding drive shaft to the associated bevel gear on said wheels, and means for drivingly connecting said jack shaft to an engine.

2., In an automotive vehicle chassis including an elongated rigid frame, a drive assembly comprising a jack shaft rotatably mounted on said frame and extending transversely thereof intermediate the ends of said frame, a plurality of axially aligned jack, shaft housings rotatably mounted on said jack shaft for movement about the axis of the jack shaft, a plurality of axle housings, each housing having a stub axle journalled therein, a ground contacting wheel mounted on each of said stub axles, a gear casing rotatably mounted on each of said axle housings for rotation about an axis which extends radially of said stub axles, each of said casings being radially spaced from the corresponding stub axle,

a shaft tube extending between each of said gear casings and a corresponding one of said jack shaft housings and rigidly secured to the latter, said shaft tubes mounting said axle housings on said jack shaft for vertical movement independently of each other, a brace bar rigidly secured to each of said shaft tubes and extending forwardly therefrom and terminating in spaced vertical relation with the forward end of the corresponding shaft tube, means pivotally attaching each of said axle housings at a point diametrically opposed to said gear casings to a corresponding one of said brace bars for movement about the axis of rotation of the gear casings relative to the axle housing, a bevel gear carried by each of said wheels and disposed in a corresponding one of said axle housings, a drive shaft disposed in each of said tubes and each drive shaft having a bevel gear on opposing ends thereof and respectively disposed in a corresponding one of said gear casings and said jack shaft housings, a double bevel gear rotatably mounted in each of said axle housings and the connected gear casing for movement about the axis of rotation of the gear casings, said double bevel gears drivingly connecting the corresponding drive shaft to the associated bevel gear on said Wheels, and means for drivingly connecting said jack shaft to an engine, brace members pivotally attached to said jack shaft for movement about the axis thereof, said brace members being rigidly secured to said shaft tubes.

HERMAN H. W. JOHNSON.

REFERENCES CKTED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 794,869 Conant July 15, 1902 1,245,158 Koshollek Nov. 6, 1917 1,283,819 Lee Nov. 5, 1918 1,314,093 Pifer Aug. 26, 1919 1,626,996 Wood May 3, 1927 1,648,753 Bittner Nov. 8, 1927 1,711,881 Fornaca May 7, 1929 1,849,407 Norman Jan. 12, 1932 2,099,114 Holmes Nov. 16, 1937 2,172,362 Cole Sept. 12, 1939 2,199,392 Dabrasky Ma 7, 1940 2,214,146 Sagraves Sept. 10, 1940 2,224,409 Peglow Dec. 19, 1940 2,257,913 Maranville Oct. 7, 1941 2,279,120 Hurley Apr. 7, 1942 2,299,926 Phelps Oct. 27, 1942 2,375,670 MacPherson May 8, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 281,595 Great Britain Mar. 1, 1928 480,969 Great Britain Mar. 3, 1938 

